Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Polaroid Introduces New Z2300 Instant Digital Camera

The newest addition to the Polaroid instant digital camera line, the Z2300 features an integrated printer with ZINK(R) Technology, enabling users to instantly capture, edit and in less than a minute print full color, 2x3" prints. Along with the ability to easily upload images to any social media platform, the Z2300 combines a compact form factor with a host of fun, easy-to-use features to create the ultimate social media machine. The camera is available in white and black and houses a 10 megapixel image sensor. The large 3.0" LCD display makes it easy to frame and review images and capture video in virtually any setting.

Ever since the introduction of the Polaroid Land Camera in 1948, people around the world have enjoyed the magic of Polaroid instant photography. Polaroid continues instant sharing in the 21st century with the Polaroid Z2300 camera which allows the user to take and instantly share pictures digitally and in print. "Polaroid invented instant photography, and for the past 75 years the brand has been synonymous with instant gratification, ease-of-use and fun," said Polaroid President Scott W. Hardy.

"The Z2300 represents the next step in the evolution of that proud tradition and it was designed to fully integrate the classic Polaroid instant photography experience into today's digital, social world. Portability, creative expression and the ability to share your most memorable moments in digital or print form all come standard in the Polaroid Z2300 camera's compact body."

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Samsung Galaxy S III camera versus HTC One X, iPhone 4S

The Samsung Galaxy S III and its 8-megapixel camera is coming out soon on five U.S. carriers, and you know what that means. That's right, boys and girls, it's time for another photo shoot-out! This time, the GSIII takes on the HTC One X, and iPhone 4S for a test of the best.Blacks are blackest on the One X, but the GSIII and iPhone 4S are the clear winners in terms of sharpness. The iPhone captured more of the yellow flower's crinkly detail -- just look at the top middle portion of the bloom, and the shadowed bottom left.

This shootout is all about the basics: how well the cameras did in various outdoor and indoor situations, and without any fancy modes, filters, or effects. All photos were shot on automatic mode, from the same position, and focusing on the same object. I have resized and cropped the pictures, but left them otherwise untouched. I placed the GSIII shots in the center of each trio to make it easier to compare to the camera shots above and below.

While I prefer the more saturated blue on the One X, the phone also blued-out the green sea layer between sky and land. The GSII shot has the least contrast of the three in both the leaf shadows and the characters' silhouettes.My eyes like the Galaxy S III's deeper greens in the two umbrellas. The iPhone produced the brightest shot, but also the most detail under the main umbrella. The One X has the sharper front-right corner.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Cameras eyed to catch illegal dumpers on country roads

Alberta's Municipal District of Foothills says it needs to ramp up its fight against people who dump garbage along country roads.The rural council is considering purchasing two cameras that could rotate to popular spots among dumpers. The cameras would have infrared capabilities to capture video at night.The fine for illegal dumping in Foothills is $125, but council would like to bring that way up — maybe even to $5,000.

The M.D. has just removed three loads of garbage from the edge of rancher Doug Fraser's property."Smartphone camera apps offer greater control over mobile photographs.I get very upset because people are being very disrespectful of the property and the countryside," he said. "I mean, it's beautiful."Fraser says the most recent pile of garbage dropped on the edge of his rolling ranch would fill half a dump truck."In this pile of garbage here was an abandoned barbecue and a couple of old chairs, so why would you do this?" he asked.

The load sure ticked off Fraser and his neighbour, who rooted through a bag of it and found a pizza receipt with a cell phone number. When he called it up he was hung up on.While suspicious, there is no chance of a fine anyway because no one saw the illegal dumping taking place."It makes me really mad," as he surveys another popular dump zone, one he says could be the site of a camera should council move on that.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Smartphone camera apps offer greater control over mobile photographs

Odds are, there's a powerful camera in your pocket right now. As camera technology evolved to fit on a cell phone, sharing photos with family and friends has become more widespread than ever. And while the standard camera app on a smartphone can help capture those memories worth sharing, here are a few apps that can enhance the experience.Without a doubt, Instagram is the most popular standalone photo-sharing application on the market.

It's actually so popular, Facebook decided to buy it in April for $1 billion.The app centers around adding filters to pictures to give them a "film" quality or more professional look. There are 18 different filters, the ability to add "tilt-shift" effects which blur certain parts of the picture and a quick-fix contrast button that enhances colors and shadows.

Users can "follow" friends and "like" and comment on their pictures. Plus, Instagram can instantly share the photos to other social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.Instagram is genuinely fun to use. It only takes a few seconds to snap a picture, choose a filter and upload it, and there's a small sense of satisfaction when receiving a notification that someone "liked" a picture. It's definitely the best in terms of social integration.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Of cameras, speeders and dough for the District

I feel compelled to look beyond the standard complaint that speed cameras are primarily money-making instruments rather than accident retardants. I think there is a more disturbing issue: the potential of some authoritarian eyes watching you.In the late 18th century, British philosopher Jeremy Bentham conceived of the “Panopticon,” a theoretical prison design consisting of a ring of prison cells around a single observation tower into which none of the prisoners would be able to see.

The basic notion was that the prisoners, never knowing when they were being watched, would behave well around the clock.Sony Reveals Pocket-Sized, 20MP Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Camera with 1 Sensor. Rather than being controlled by physical force, they would be subordinated mentally, expanding the psychological partition between the guards and the prisoners.

Law enforcement cameras fall neatly into this theme, widening the civic divide between the enforcers and the enforced. While not a drastic increase in authoritarian power, these cameras are a step in the wrong direction. Paternalistic aspects of government have rarely sprouted up overnight, and this is just another incremental intrusion upon the lives of citizens.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Sony Reveals Pocket-Sized, 20MP Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Camera with 1 Sensor

Sony has announced its latest digital camera in the Cyber-shot line called the . The new digital camera boasts a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T fixed lens promising high image quality. The camera can shoot still images and record full HD video while providing a level manual control Sony says is unmatched by any other camera of the size.

The big new feature of the camera is the world's first one-inch type Exmore CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 effective megapixels. The sensor was developed by Sony and has an area that's about four times larger than the 1/2.3-type sensors in traditional point-and-shoot cameras. The larger sensor area allows the camera to capture more light resulting in better image quality and very low noise.

As for the rear-facing camera, Kuo said Apple will likely retain the 8-megapixel camera while improving the aperture range to go up to f/2.2. The iPhone 4S has a maximum aperture of f/2.4. The analyst also predicted that the rear camera on the next iPhone will be noticeable thinner, "making it the most challenging iPhone design yet."According to his analysis, the new iPhone's rear camera will have a CCM of 5.55mm and a lens TTL of 4mm, down from 6mm and 4.8mm on the iPhone 4S. Apple's suppliers will reportedly face "unprecedented challenges" producing the rear camera component because of the changes to the design.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

OmniVision Rolls Out Wireless Skype(TM) IP Camera Reference Design for Home Surveillance

A global leader in integrated silicon solutions, today launched a wireless Skype IP security camera, designed to allow smartphones, tablets and notebooks to remotely access the camera's video feed over the Internet. Utilizing OmniVision's low-power, high sensitivity OV7740 CameraChip(TM) image sensor and Marvell's advanced application processing and network solutions, the wireless Skype IP camera enables a complete, end-to-end security package, making it an attractive solution for home surveillance systems providers.

"We've teamed up with Marvell to enable a camera that sets a new industry standard for easy-to-use home security systems," said Roy Karunakaran, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. "Reflecting the rapid growth of mobile computing markets, this wireless Skype IP camera is designed to operate seamlessly with Skype-video enabled smartphones, tablets and notebooks. This enables users to access their cameras from anywhere through a dedicated Skype ID on their mobile devices to get live high-quality VGA video."Small Cameras That Can Switch Focus or Ride a Bike.

"Previously, IP-based home surveillance systems were difficult to install and relied heavily on complex software configurations," said Michael Kao, technical marketing manager at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "The new Skype IP camera is an important advancement for out-of-the-box home security system providers. Combined with Marvell's highly integrated application platform, remote access software and consumer-friendly design, I'm incredibly excited to see how providers will leverage this new technology to take home security systems to the next level."

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